Wilma Ann Butts-Oliveira
Alphus Clark
Christene Lois (Corcoran) Haines
Robert ‘Bob’ JackWilliam ‘Bill’ David Jackson
Wilma Ann Butts-Oliveira
(July 7, 1935 - April 12, 2008)
Wilma Ann Butts-Oliveira, 72, passed away April 12, 2008, at her home in Baker City.
At her request there will be no services. Her cremated remains will be inurned at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Baker City.
Wilma Ann was born July 7, 1935, in the old town of Pine near Halfway to Sanford L. and Dorothy A. (Beach) Butts. She was born into two homestead families the Koopman family from Halfway and the Butts family from Unity.
Early on, her family moved across the state to Tillamook where Wilma was raised and attended Sacred Heart Academy. After High School, Wilma worked for a year at Tillamook P.U.D. before going to college at OSU.
After a year of college, she moved with her children to California and went to work for Conoco. Wilma retired from Conoco in 1992 and returned to Baker City.
She is preceded in death by her parents Sanford and Dorothy Butts and a brother George Skelton.
Wilma is survived by her children: Raymond Oliveira of Sisquoc, Calif. and Caleen Nale of Santa Maria, Calif.; brothers: Calvin Butts of Baker City, Ore. and Charles Skelton of Troutdale, Ore.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions can be made to Pathway Hospice in care of Gray’s West & Company Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, Ore. 97814.
Alphus Clark
(Aug. 4, 1920-March 29, 2008)
Retired U.S. Army Col. Alphus Clark, 87, a Baker City native, died March 29, 2008, at Shawnee, Kan.
Col. Clark, a 33-year Army veteran, will be buried with full military honors at 9 a.m. on May 29 at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Col. Clark was born Aug. 4, 1920, at Baker City to Walter A. Clark and Grace E. Clark. He graduated from Baker High School in 1938.
He started his military career in Baker City when he enlisted in Company F, 186th Infantry, Oregon National Guard, on Aug. 15, 1935. He entered active duty with this same unit on Sept. 16, 1940.
Col. Clark received a direct commission as a second lieutenant in 1941 and served with Company G, 186th Infantry, until January 1942, when he was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, which shortly took him into combat in the South Pacific.
He was awarded the Silver Star medal for gallantry in action at Guadalcanal where, according to his citation, he advanced "through enemy fire with virtually no coverage to kill five Japanese snipers single-handed" on Jan. 13, 1943.
Col. Clark was wounded on Aug. 5, 1943, on New Georgia Island and he was evacuated to the United States via New Zealand. He was awarded his first Purple Heart. He received his second Purple Heart after he was wounded during the Korean War.
His other medals include: two Legions of Merit; 10 air medals; five Bronze Star medals with "V"; three Army commendation medals; Asiatic campaign medal with two battle stars; national defense service medal with OLC; Korean service medal; Vietnam service medal with three battle stars; the combat infantry badge; and the parachute badge.
Col. Clark earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland and a master of science degree from the George Washington University. He also graduated from the Infantry School, Command and General Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College and U.S. Army War College.
He retired in 1973 to Punta Gorda, Fla., where he and his wife, Barbara C. Clark, enjoyed their retirement and visiting with their eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Col. Clark was active in many civic organizations in Punta Gorda and elsewhere, including the Elks Lodge; VFW Post 5690; the Retired Officers Association, Charlotte Harbor Chapter; past master, Scottish Rite of Free Masonry of Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; Punta Gorda Kiwanis Club; Boy Scouts of America, Southwest Florida Council. He and Barbara were longtime members of the Church of Good Shepherd in Punta Gorda.
Col. Clark is survived by two children: Carolyn Sue Meyer and her husband, John M. Meyer of Shawnee, Kan., and Richard A. Clark and his wife, Carol, of Deltaville, Va.; and a brother, Don Clark and his wife, Ann, of Baker City.
Col. Clark was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, who died in 2001.
Christene Lois (Corcoran) Haines
(March 25, 1934 - April 12, 2008)
Christene Lois (Corcoran) Haines , 74, of New Plymouth, Ida., formerly of Baker City, OR passed away Saturday, April 12, 2008 at home with her family at her side, Memorial services were at 3 p.m. MST Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at the First Baptist Church in New Plymouth. Pastor Phill Pittman officiated. Graveside memorial services were 2 p.m. PST Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Baker City, Ore. Services were under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, New Plymouth.
Chris was born March 25, 1934 in Friendsville, Tennessee to Hoyle and Myrtle French. She was the oldest of six children, five sisters, and one brother. Chris and her family moved to California in the early forties, this is where she went to school.
She married Corky Corcoran in 1952 and they had three children, Linda, Louis, and Lyle. They moved to Oregon and later settled in Baker City, Ore. There the family lived for 24 years, until Corky passed away. In 1984, she married a long time friend Myrl Haines and they moved to New Plymouth, Ida. This is where they both enjoyed gardening and farm life. After retiring, Chris and Myrl started traveling to visit family and friends and spending winters in Arizona. They were members of the Ore-Ida Wheelers. They spent extra time playing cards and games with friends around the area. Chris enjoyed gardening, flowers, crafts, crocheting, knitting, and cooking. She was always involved in the family, especially grandkids and great grandkids.
She is survived by her husband, Myrl of New Plymouth, Ida.; three children, daughters, Linda and her husband Roger Smith of Haines, Ore., Lois and her husband Lorenzo DelCurto of Summerville, Ore., son, Lyle and his wife Cindy Corcoran of Prineville, Ore.; stepson, John and his wife Robin Haines of Ely, Minn.; stepdaughter, Norine and her husband Dan Shoemaker of New Plymouth, Ida.; 14 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren; five sisters and one brother.
Chris was preceded in death by her parents, Hoyle and Myrtle French, her first husband Corky Corcoran, and a grandson Steven Hall.
Following the service in New Plymouth there was a dinner at the church for family and friends.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in care of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel PO Box 730, Payette, Ida. 83661.
Robert ‘Bob’ Jack
(Dec. 25, 1919 - March 25, 2008)
Robert "Bob" Jack was born Dec. 25, 1919, in Baker City, Ore. He died March 25, 2008, of natural causes in Clackamas, Ore. Bob graduated from Baker High School in 1938. He worked at the Mill in Pondosa out of high school. He joined the Oregon Army National Guard. He was enlisted May 27, 1941, with Company F 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division during World War II. On Jan. 24, 1942, at Ft. Lewis Washington, he married Lola A. Randall on a number of 15 minute leaves provided by his company members. He returned from the War 3 years later and worked for Pacific Fruit for seven years. Bob bought a little Mom and Pop grocery market in Baker City and named it Jack's 3rd & B. He operated the store until 1992 when he retired. The store was torn down and a manufactured home was put in its place where Bob and Lola lived until June of 2006 when his children talked him into moving to Clackamas to be closer to family.
Bob was never sick a day in his life until he was hospitalized Christmas Day (his birthday) 2007 when he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He was in no pain and died peacefully of natural causes at home.
Bob is survived by his wife, Lola. Children, Alyce Sommerfeldt and her husband Ray, Barbara Lacey and her husband Don, Robert Jack and his wife, Debbie. Grandchildren: Tamara (Thomas)Burkley, Rick Smith (Crystal), David (Ann) Smith, and Catherine (Chris) Schindler; Brad Garrett (Heather), Patrick (Annette) Garrett; Kim (Darin) Ferry and Randy (Debi) Jack. Great grandchildren: Randall, Scott, Matthew, Andrew, Paige, Jessalyn, Shonda, Saebra, Daniel, Houston, LeeAnne, Cheyenne, Colten, Jared, Stephen, Carlynn, Delanie, Mac, Joel, Selena, Paige, Nathan, Megan, Cassidy, Gabrielle, Hailey, Ryan and 14 great great grandchildren.
Remembrances to Veterans of Foreign Wars, Hospital Building Fund, Baker City, Ore.
William ‘Bill’ David Jackson
(Sept. 27, 1950 - April 8, 2008)
William “Bill” David Jackson, 57, of Prairie City, Ore., passed away April 8, 2008, in Richland, Wash. A graveside service was held 1 p.m., Monday, April 14, at the Prairie City Cemetery.
Bill was born Sept. 27, 1950, in Baker City, Ore. to David M. and Elaine (Spiropolas) Jackson. He graduated from Baker High School in 1969 and achieved a BS from Eastern Oregon University in 1974. He also received a Masters. On October 24, 1981, Bill married Cynthia Beck in Portland, Ore. The couple had two sons, Kyle and Jason.
Bill loved the out of doors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He recently enjoyed a whitetail hunt in Canada and bagged a nice buck. He was looking forward to more trips and was considering an elk trip for the Fall as well as a trip to South Dakota pheasant hunting.
He enjoyed watching kids playing sports of all kinds. You would often see him at football, basketball and baseball games whether his kids were playing or not. Supporting the youth of the community was something he always did. If a kid had some raffle tickets or was selling anything, they would always find a buyer in Bill. If someone needed a hand, he was always there to lend his support. Bill was a big sponsor of 4-H and FFA buying animals at the livestock auction and going to FFA auctions he would always find something to buy to help support the kids.
Bill became active in Little League when his sons were playing ball and continued in Little League even after the boys were older. He was a coach and then became the Grant County Little League President for two years. He then became the Vice-President of District 3 Little League, a position he was active in until his passing. Bill loved watching the games and doing what he could to support Little League and the Kids.
In the late 80’s Bill became one of the main folks working to help get the William R. Young Memorial Prairie City Ranger District Employees Scholarship started. Knowing it was going to benefit kids for years to come, long after those who started the scholarship moved on, meant a lot to Bill.
He was involved in the Youth Pheasant Hunt and raised pheasants at his home for the event. Kids who might not have gotten a bird knew they could come out to the house and they would be able to bag one.
In the late 70’s and 80’s, Bill was a volunteer fireman for the Canyon City Fire Department. After moving to Prairie City, he started driving the ambulance for the City, later becoming certified as an EMT and was one for several years, using his free time to help support the community.
Bill worked for the Forest Service for 33 years retiring in August of 2007. Recently he commented on how lucky he was to have a job he enjoyed where he could be working outdoors. He was a Sales Administrator for most of those years, and enjoyed working with the logging community. Bill was also involved in an overhead team working on fires. He continued in this position after retirement and enjoyed his work on the team.
Bill gave selflessly to the community giving both monetary support and of his own time. He felt strongly that supporting the youth of the community was very important and he didn’t hesitate to help out in any way that he could….He will be sorely missed.
He is survived by his wife Cynthia of Prairie City, and his sons, Kyle of Hanksville, Utah, and Jason of Prairie City. He was preceded in death by his parents Dave and Elaine Jackson.
Memorial contributions in Bill’s memory may be made to the Grant Co. Little League or the William R. Young PCRD Employer Scholarship Fund through Driskill Memorial Chapel, 241 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845.
|
